Times have changed and times are strange

 "Everything, will be all right won't it?" Gabe asked as soon as Sammie got home with Hannah. He'd cleaned up the kitchen and supper was warming in the crockpot. It was the least he could do. 

Hannah went to play with her box of toys. She had napped in the car on the way home from the hospital but was ready to drag out her own things which Sammie switched up from time to time. She actually, had two boxes of toys for her and he'd put away the other box so everything was new for Hannah to look through.

"Oh, it'll go all right," Sammie sighed. Evidently, Caitlin had protested the surgery matter but finally gave in. 

Gabe kept expecting her to ask about him, but she didn't. She went to check on dinner while he stayed in the living room to watch Hannah look at dolls and stuffed animals. There were even a few cars and a play cell phone. 

Sammie said Hannah would stay here tonight. Gabe nodded as if he'd sleep where ever she wanted him too, but the plan was to keep her in the crib Sammie set up in their bedroom.

He shoved his hands deeper in his hoodie. He wished he could talk about what Sammie wanted him to talk about. He went to get the dining table ready to eat. Sammie dollaped the chicken and dumplings in a small bowl to cool for Hannah, who of course, had not even looked her way. 

Gabe found himself leaning against the kitchen doorway gazing at Sammie. 

"Sorry, I was a brat at Christmas," he started.

"Oh, did you google it or something," she looked at him as if he was far more than a brat, more like an asshole. "Look you need to apologize to your mother. Not me." Sammie stared at him as if she knew he was in trouble.

"So..so..I do love my mom," Gabe couldn't look her in the eye. He settled on looking at what she'd put on top of the cabinet. extra paper towels. "It's just." He could barely say it. 

"What?" She pressed to know as she got out bowls for each of them.

"I feel guilty."

She didn't say anything but filled their bowls with the chicken and dumplings.

"I don't know why I'm this way, I thought- I thought things would get better." He was straight-lipped but was starting to choke up on the inside. "It's just, she's got Pan...that's all she's ever needed."  He sniffed back tears.

"Is this something your dad told you when  you were little?" She wanted to know as she went to put the food on the table. She edged by him.

Gabe shrugged and then said, "Maybe."

"Look, none of this is your fault," she told him. "I know its not easy. And it's going to take small steps. But you have to try. You don't want to miss any more days with her than you already have."

Gabe pushed a tear back under his eye with his thumb. He took a deep breath, and she went to put Hannah in her high chair. Of course, she was fussy, but Sammie didn't seem to mind. Finally after Hannah took a bite of the savory carrots and broccoli she ate a little dumpling and some chicken.

"I know, a lot about the waiting," she nodded. "I've waited for a lot in my life, too. They weren't gifts or vacations. And then I found you. You're the home I've longed for."

Gabe nodded. He took a spoonful of the comfort food. Yes, she was his home too. He didn't know how he got so lucky. He knew he wasn't going to question it, but this was the present, not the past and all they could do was move forward.